Ready? Set. Date!

Speed dating helps busy singles meet the perfect match

Working four, 12-hour graveyard shifts every week doesn't lend much
time for Melissa Collier, 29, to meet new people. Her last date, which
she described as "less than wonderful," was three months ago.

But last week, Collier, a registered nurse, decided to try out speed
dating - the latest matchmaking craze to hit Corpus Christi. Within two
hours, she met 11 bachelors at Katz 21 Steak & Spirits, which just
initiated Fast Dates to be held at 7 p.m. Wednesdays. For its launch,
22 people - 11 men and 11 women - attended the event.

"I thought it would be fun," said Collier, who moved to Corpus
Christi three years ago from Tupelo, Miss. "I don't get out much
because I work nights. It kind of cuts into your social life a little
bit."

While Collier wasn't searching for a love connection, she wanted to
meet "professionals that are unattached."

On the other side of the bar, on the quest for a tall, athletic guy
with similar interests, Abby Abrego was dressed to impress in a black
halter, pink ruffled skirt and stiletto heels.

"It's very hard to meet people, especially being a single parent,"
said Abrego, 43, who brought her sister and a male friend to 21 Fast
Dates.

Each four-minute-long date gave participants just enough time to
discover a spark. The advantages: The four-minute time limit makes the
date easy, safe and friendly, time saving, and no worry of face-to-face
rejection.

Interested men and women jot down ID numbers of people they would
like to see again. E-mails containing contact numbers of matches are
sent out the next day.

Dylan George, a legal assistant who enjoys scuba diving, knew
exactly what he was looking for: a committed relationship with a "short
brunette" with interests similar to his, such as music.

"I try to avoid the bar scene," said George, 26, who wasn't
impressed with online dating. "Keeping that in mind, there's a shortage
of places for professional singles to congregate."

Sisters Laila Bechara, 35, and Samia, 32, said meeting new people
becomes more difficult after college. While neither is picky, each
prefers someone who doesn't smoke, drink or gamble.

"I guess (I would like to) meet a nice guy, start with a friendship
and see what happens after that," Laila said. Both said they like the
advantage of meeting dates in person and studying their body
language.

Los Angeles Rabbi Yaacov Deyo, author of the book "Speed Dating: The
Smart, Faster Way to Lasting Love," started the speed-dating phenomenon
in the late '90s as a way for young Jewish singles to find a marriage
partner.

"I thought it was an interesting idea and no one else in Corpus is
doing it," said Beck, 29, a Corpus Christi native. "It's hard to meet
singles. I think that's a general complaint of everyone in any
city."

Beck said there's generally more interest in speed dating from women
than men.

At 7:20 p.m., the games officially began. The sounds of soft, jazzy
music was in the air. The room came alive with chatter and body
language. Each woman remained seated at a candlelit table sipping a
drink, while at the sound of a bell, a different man would join her in
conversation.

"What radio station is set on your car?," "Where did you go to
school?," "What do you do in your free time?" and "What was the last
movie you saw?" were some of the icebreakers.

Of course, rules had been set. No one may ask for individuals'
contact information or ask any questions of a sexual nature. But joking
around was OK.

William Rivera, 39, was open about his interest in a few of the
women.

About halfway through, Rivera, an investigator, told one of his
dates, "I'm going to put a checkmark here whether you like me or
not."

Overall, Abrego enjoyed the experience but didn't meet anyone who
fit the bill.

"I'm looking for that feeling," she said. "If I don't feel it, I'm
not going to even bother with it because it's wasting their time as
well as my own. I have enough friends. I'm not looking for a
friend."

The next day, Collier discovered an e-mail indicating she had one
match.

"I don't know as far as dating, but he seems really nice," she said
of her new friend. "He e-mailed me already. I'm going to give him a
call tomorrow and say 'Hi.' Who knows?"